Biography

Academic and Personal Background

Dr. Blount (they/them) is a socio-ecohydrologist who is interested in the interactions between hydrology (water), ecology (vegetation), and society (people). Dr. Blount joined the faculty at UIS in Fall 2022 after completing a postdoctoral research appointment in urban ecohydrology at Washington State University Vancouver. They received a Ph.D. and M.S. in Hydrology from Colorado School of Mines (2020; 2018) and a B.S. in Environmental Geosciences from Texas A&M University (2013).

Brandon Barclay Derman is Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, in the School of Integrated Science, Sustainability and Public Health, part of the College of Health, Science and Technology at the University of Illinois Springfield. Dr. Derman received his Ph.D. in Geography (with additional specialization in Sociolegal Studies) from the University of Washington. Professor Derman specializes in environmental politics, law, policy and justice, with an emphasis on climate change.

Dr. Richard Gilman-Opalsky’s teaching and research focus on the history of political philosophy, Continental and contemporary social theory, Marxism, capitalism, autonomist politics, postmodern philosophy, critical theory, global social movements, and feminist philosophy.

Dr. Gilman-Opalsky earned his Ph.D. in Political Science at The New School for Social Research (2006). His M.A. (The New School for Social Research) and B.A. (Hofstra University) are in Philosophy.